We got a new clothesline but I haven't used it yet. I thought it was going to rain all day so Grace got tired of waiting for the sun to come out and hung up her doll clothes. She surprised me with it this afternoon. If you look closely, you can see her under a sunbonnet, having tea. :0)
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Spring Flowers
I took some pictures of my blooming flowers this afternoon. The yellow columbine is my favorite. I also have a dark pink/light pink and dark blue/white variety that will hopefully blossom this summer.
I can't remember what the pink one is called. The leaves remind me of rosemary.
The rose is a climbing Joseph's coat. I planted it last summer and now it is about 6 feet tall!! The roses are all different...mixed shades of red, orange, yellow and pink.
Enjoy!
Lastly, some spinach and lettuce I have been growing since early January. Maybe I'll have enough for a small dinner salad soon. ;0)
I can't remember what the pink one is called. The leaves remind me of rosemary.
The rose is a climbing Joseph's coat. I planted it last summer and now it is about 6 feet tall!! The roses are all different...mixed shades of red, orange, yellow and pink.
Enjoy!
Lastly, some spinach and lettuce I have been growing since early January. Maybe I'll have enough for a small dinner salad soon. ;0)
Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup oil or butter
1 cup brown sugar or 3/4 cup honey
1 egg
1/4 cup water, juice or milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour (you can use whole wheat)
1/2 cup dry milk powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup nuts, seeds, coconut, or dried
fruit (I used coconut)
Thoroughly beat oil, brown sugar, egg, water and vanilla. Add flour, dry milk powder, salt, soda and cinnamon. Beat well. Mix in oats, wheat germ, nuts, seeds, etc. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
1 cup brown sugar or 3/4 cup honey
1 egg
1/4 cup water, juice or milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour (you can use whole wheat)
1/2 cup dry milk powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup nuts, seeds, coconut, or dried
fruit (I used coconut)
Thoroughly beat oil, brown sugar, egg, water and vanilla. Add flour, dry milk powder, salt, soda and cinnamon. Beat well. Mix in oats, wheat germ, nuts, seeds, etc. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
My Weekend
We got out our Easter decorations this week. We decorated the egg tree that Grandma gave us many years ago. We lined up our mini stuffed bunnies along the fireplace mantle, put some eggs up on the entryway flowers, and I found some darling chick and bunny salt and pepper shakers at Hallmark.
Saturday we ran some errands. I got some stronger glasses. It's nice to see again! :0) I did a little gardening. My columbine, climbing rose and shamrock are all blooming. I'll take pictures later in the week. Today we went to church, had BIL and SIL over for dinner and then went to the nature preserve for a walk. The kids wore their rubber boots so they could wade in the creek. We brought nets to catch some tadpoles but couldn't find any. I'd like to go back this week sometime and do some more exploring. Phillip took pictures on his camera so I'll share those later this week too. I'm exhausted so I'm going to bed.
Saturday we ran some errands. I got some stronger glasses. It's nice to see again! :0) I did a little gardening. My columbine, climbing rose and shamrock are all blooming. I'll take pictures later in the week. Today we went to church, had BIL and SIL over for dinner and then went to the nature preserve for a walk. The kids wore their rubber boots so they could wade in the creek. We brought nets to catch some tadpoles but couldn't find any. I'd like to go back this week sometime and do some more exploring. Phillip took pictures on his camera so I'll share those later this week too. I'm exhausted so I'm going to bed.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Dreamer
Grace LOVES horses. A few months ago we went to the dollar theatre to see "Dreamer." Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning star in it. I thought it was a really good movie. Grace has been counting the days until it came out on DVD. She dressed up in her cowgirl outfit for the occassion. We are going to watch it together at family night. Less than 10 hours to go!
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Afternoon Tea
We actually had leftover raspberry lemonade instead of tea this afternoon! My recipe for lemonade is
"almost a cup of sugar"
"almost a cup of real lemon juice"
Put in a 1/2 gallon pitcher, add some ice, fill with water and stir. Sometimes I put in 1/2 a cup of frozen berries.
We had scones with jam and honey and used our bunny tea set. I found it at Costco many years ago and have used it at Easter time ever since.
We'll have the leftover scones for dinner tonight.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Spring Dinner
Recently, the girls saw a picture of people playing croquet. When I told them we actually have the game, they were very excited. The plan was to have a backyard picnic and play crouquet on the first day of spring but it was too wet outside today. We will as soon as everything dries up. We did have a spring dinner. Mushroom and spinach quiche, asparagus and raspberry lemonade.
Kelli
Kelli
Birdometer
Last night, I taught Sunday School for the last time. I have been teaching for 2 years and loved it but it's time for a break. We will be able to attend the morning service on a regular basis now and have time for a Sunday dinner without having to be at the next service by 5:00pm. I plan on visiting about once a month or so though. The service lasts for 1 1/2 hours and the Sunday School lesson only lasts about an hour so I throw in a seasonal craft. Since today is the first day of spring, we made an old-fashioned weather device that measures "birdometric" pressure with the help of a friendly yarn worm. Be sure to consult it before braving the blustery March weather!!!
A new sleeping spot
Fern has jumped up to the top of this bookshelf a couple of times lately (she uses the wetbar counter to get halfway there) but Phillip saw her do it for the first time this weekend and was impressed. He put a blanket up there for her and there she slept all weekend! There is a vent right above her so she got some warm air blowing on her since it was cold yesterday. She is giving me the evil eye for disrupting her nap. :0)
Friday, March 17, 2006
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Wishing you always—
Walls for the wind
And a roof for the rain
And tea beside the fire—
Laughter to cheer you
And those you love near you—
And all that your heart might desire!
Walls for the wind
And a roof for the rain
And tea beside the fire—
Laughter to cheer you
And those you love near you—
And all that your heart might desire!
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
St. Patrick's Day Plans
I will be making corned beef, Irish soda bread and Colcannon this Friday and wanted to share the recipes with you.
Irish Soda Bread
4 cups white flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 cups sour milk
Preheat oven to 400F. Sift dry ingredients togther. Make a well in the center. Add sour milk and stir together with a wooden spoon. The dough should be thick but not too wet. Turn dough onto a floured surface and form with hands into a round loaf. Place the loaf into a cast iron frying pan or heavy round casserole dish that has been greased with butter,. Score the top in the form of a cross with a wet knife. Bake for 40 minutes. Bread should cool for an hour befoer serving.
*Note: Soda bread is daily fare in Ireland, made fresh for breakfast and tea. If the loaf is made with whole-meal wheat flour, it is known as brown bread; if made with unbleached white flour, it's Irish soda bread. Authentic Irish soda bread is made with sour milk, not buttermilk, or milk soured by adding vinegar or lemon juice. To sour milk, simple leave it out overnight.
I have been waiting all year to make this recipe again.
Colcannon
1 pound new potatoes, peeled
4 leeks (or one bunch scallions), chopped
1 small cabbage, chopped
Milk (just enought to moisten potatoes)
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon ground thyme
Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook potatoes until tender. Slowly saute the chopped leeks and chopped cabbage separately until soft and limp (but not brown).
Mash the potatoes with a hand masher, then add the leeks and milk and mash together until smooth. Next mash in the cabbage, adding the heavy cream, butter, and thyme; blend well until smooth and fluffy. Season with salt and pepper. Put this mixture into an ovenproof dish and place under broiler to brown.
If the colcannon is prepared up to the point of browning ahead of time, reheat covered with foil in a 350 oven for a half hour. Uncover and brown under broiler.
We are also going to have a hunt for an Irish leprechaun and his pot of gold in the backyard. We never find him, but we do find mini pots of gold (mini Reese's peanut butter cups) hidden around. ;0)
Irish Soda Bread
4 cups white flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 cups sour milk
Preheat oven to 400F. Sift dry ingredients togther. Make a well in the center. Add sour milk and stir together with a wooden spoon. The dough should be thick but not too wet. Turn dough onto a floured surface and form with hands into a round loaf. Place the loaf into a cast iron frying pan or heavy round casserole dish that has been greased with butter,. Score the top in the form of a cross with a wet knife. Bake for 40 minutes. Bread should cool for an hour befoer serving.
*Note: Soda bread is daily fare in Ireland, made fresh for breakfast and tea. If the loaf is made with whole-meal wheat flour, it is known as brown bread; if made with unbleached white flour, it's Irish soda bread. Authentic Irish soda bread is made with sour milk, not buttermilk, or milk soured by adding vinegar or lemon juice. To sour milk, simple leave it out overnight.
I have been waiting all year to make this recipe again.
Colcannon
1 pound new potatoes, peeled
4 leeks (or one bunch scallions), chopped
1 small cabbage, chopped
Milk (just enought to moisten potatoes)
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon ground thyme
Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook potatoes until tender. Slowly saute the chopped leeks and chopped cabbage separately until soft and limp (but not brown).
Mash the potatoes with a hand masher, then add the leeks and milk and mash together until smooth. Next mash in the cabbage, adding the heavy cream, butter, and thyme; blend well until smooth and fluffy. Season with salt and pepper. Put this mixture into an ovenproof dish and place under broiler to brown.
If the colcannon is prepared up to the point of browning ahead of time, reheat covered with foil in a 350 oven for a half hour. Uncover and brown under broiler.
We are also going to have a hunt for an Irish leprechaun and his pot of gold in the backyard. We never find him, but we do find mini pots of gold (mini Reese's peanut butter cups) hidden around. ;0)
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Monday, March 13, 2006
Teapot
My friend Gwen, sent me this yellow rose hankerchief for my birthday. She remembered yellow is my favorite color. I like to keep it on my kitchen table. I found the green apple candle holder in my summer decorations and since I had to put the air conditioner on yesterday I thought I would get some summer items out. Now, we did have company over for lunch, otherwise I would have suffered through it. The high temperature was 87!
We did some yardwork this weekend and I discovered my violets bloomed. They stayed green all winter and actually spread quite a bit.
I'm off to my piano lessons. I have practiced like crazy for 3 days and my fingers hurt! LOL
We did some yardwork this weekend and I discovered my violets bloomed. They stayed green all winter and actually spread quite a bit.
I'm off to my piano lessons. I have practiced like crazy for 3 days and my fingers hurt! LOL
Friday, March 10, 2006
Freshly painted entryway
Is anyone tired of hearing about my decorating projects because I am tired of decorating! LOL I painted the entryway this week. The color is "informal ivory." I already had everything but the tiny wall sconces which were $10.00. There is a Victorian guest book on the table but I always forget to have our company write a little note. The picture above the door says "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15"
I only have two more rooms to paint. The laundryroom and bathroom. Not until next month though...I need a break!
I only have two more rooms to paint. The laundryroom and bathroom. Not until next month though...I need a break!
Friday, March 10, 06
We are having a very nice Friday so far. We had a garage sale from 8:00-12:00pm. and made $50.00. If I can do the same tomorrow, I will be very happy.
Phillip took the afternoon off and treated us to lunch out to celebrate getting our income tax refund. We stopped by Home Depot to get some dirt to freshen up our front flowerbeds. Everyone is napping and I sure feel like one too, but if I don't go practice piano, I'm going to be in big trouble this coming Monday!!
Here is a picture of the top of my front porch. A few years ago I hung up some grapevine with white lights wrapped around it. It looks really pretty at night. Last spring a pair of mourning doves decided they liked it too and built a nest! They had two sets of twins and this week they are back. I believe the mom is sitting on her eggs. We'll know when they hatch because of all the bird poop on the front porch..LOL. Since the mama is a regular around here, we named her "Sweetie." Can you see her up in her nest?? Of course we leave the lights off at night now. We all know how much expecting moms need their rest!
Phillip took the afternoon off and treated us to lunch out to celebrate getting our income tax refund. We stopped by Home Depot to get some dirt to freshen up our front flowerbeds. Everyone is napping and I sure feel like one too, but if I don't go practice piano, I'm going to be in big trouble this coming Monday!!
Here is a picture of the top of my front porch. A few years ago I hung up some grapevine with white lights wrapped around it. It looks really pretty at night. Last spring a pair of mourning doves decided they liked it too and built a nest! They had two sets of twins and this week they are back. I believe the mom is sitting on her eggs. We'll know when they hatch because of all the bird poop on the front porch..LOL. Since the mama is a regular around here, we named her "Sweetie." Can you see her up in her nest?? Of course we leave the lights off at night now. We all know how much expecting moms need their rest!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Family Night
We have decided Thursday will be our "Family Night." Now, we usually spend every evening together but Thursdays will be more planned. Grace and Emily will take turns planning and making dinner. Benjamin will be in charge of drinks. (He's a big fan of lemonade!) Everyone is very excited. Tonight, we had spaghetti and played a board game called Sequence and a card game called Crazy Eights. Phillip and I also each demonstated the only magic card trick we know. Mine is better. :) I have a couple of books around here with more family night ideas so I will share them this coming week.
Aprons and Dresses
I finally finished some aprons I have been working on for awhile. I used 1940's reproduction fabric. My local quilt store has many prints to choose from.
My friend Elizabeth told me about some paperdoll fabric at Hancock's and while the store here in Dallas didn't have the same print, I found a different one. I am going to try and make Grace and Emily some simple summer dresses. Anyone want to come and help me?!
My friend Elizabeth told me about some paperdoll fabric at Hancock's and while the store here in Dallas didn't have the same print, I found a different one. I am going to try and make Grace and Emily some simple summer dresses. Anyone want to come and help me?!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Tuesday, March 7, 06
Today, the kids have been enjoying the warm, spring sunshine. The sandbox is always a big hit.
We worked in our gardens today. My flowers are all coming back nicely.
We bought 3 new goldfish for our watergarden today. They have been named Princess, Treasure and Batman.
We worked in our gardens today. My flowers are all coming back nicely.
We bought 3 new goldfish for our watergarden today. They have been named Princess, Treasure and Batman.
Spring in Dallas
The tree in our front yard is just starting to blossom.
If you look closely, you can see a baby broccoli. :0)
If you look closely, you can see a baby broccoli. :0)
Sunday, March 05, 2006
My Weekend
Here is our living room. We watch movies, play games, read books and do alot of our schoolwork here.
We finally have curtains!! Garden Ridge was having a huge sale all weekend. I got each curtain panel for 12.99
I spray painted our fireplace black. (It used to be shiny brass). I'm really happy with the results.
We finally have curtains!! Garden Ridge was having a huge sale all weekend. I got each curtain panel for 12.99
I spray painted our fireplace black. (It used to be shiny brass). I'm really happy with the results.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Treasures
We have been talking about treasures this morning. The girls made a treasure book. On one piece of paper they colored a treasure chest and wrote "Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy." They cut out gold paper coins and wrote down some of their favorite treasures. Dolls, jewelry and toys topped the list. As a good example of rust and moth, I got out a Victorian child's sewing box. Inside, all of the dollclothes she once made have been eaten by moths in some spots, everything is dirty and the keys and mirror have rusted.
On the other half of the paper the girls wrote out, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." We cut out paper hearts and wrote down "treasures" such as gentleness, helping others, honestly, sharing, and treating others like we want to be treated."
We aren't going to get rid of all our earthly treasures, but we are going to spend more time storing up heavenly ones.
On the other half of the paper the girls wrote out, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." We cut out paper hearts and wrote down "treasures" such as gentleness, helping others, honestly, sharing, and treating others like we want to be treated."
We aren't going to get rid of all our earthly treasures, but we are going to spend more time storing up heavenly ones.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Lion and Lamb Cupcakes
Our cupcakes turned out cute and everyone had fun making them. Does anyone want to come and help us eat them? ;0)
Hello March
The March wind roars
Like a lion in the sky,
And makes us shiver
As he passes by.
When winds are soft,
And the days are warm and clear,
Just like a gentle lamb,
Then spring is here.
-Author Unknown
We have been working on our March calendars this morning and guessing how March will come in. Today is warm and sunny but the next few days are supposed to be stormy.
Like a lion in the sky,
And makes us shiver
As he passes by.
When winds are soft,
And the days are warm and clear,
Just like a gentle lamb,
Then spring is here.
-Author Unknown
We have been working on our March calendars this morning and guessing how March will come in. Today is warm and sunny but the next few days are supposed to be stormy.
